Meet the Team at Physiotherapy Matters!

From left to right:

Edd Shaw, Kate Barker, Hannah Bolton, Ritu Nayyar, Neeraj Nayyar.

Apologies, Fiona Hills, Nigel Douglas, Holly Rowley, Erin Graybill.

Below you will find profiles for each member of our valued staff.

NEERAJ NAYYAR

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, HPC, also member of ACPOHE, OCPPP, MIMDTP, AACP, SOM, and ACPSM

Neeraj is the Director and a Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist at Physiotherapy Matters who graduated in 2001 and now has over 9 year post graduate Musculoskeletal experience. Since that time Neeraj has worked at Hartlepool and North Tees NHS Trust, Newcastle Nuffield Hospital and Newcastle Football Club before setting up Physiotherapy Matters in 2006. Over the past 5 years he has worked in various Occupational Health Units with Physiotherapy Matters, most recent / presently at Newcastle International Airport and North Tyneside Council.

Neeraj has certificates in numerous post graduate courses / qualification, such as; Applied Ergonomics, Occupational Health training, McKenzie accreditations, Acupuncture and Kinetic control concepts, which is enhanced with an immaculate CPD and further training programs for continual improvement of service.

Outside of Physiotherapy, Neeraj has taken part in a number of charity fund raising activities including sk-diving, coast to coast (147miles) bike ride and more recently the Great North Run half marathon. He is a keen football fan (don’t forget to ask him who he supports when you meet him!), and has a passion for cars.

KATE BARKER

MCSP, HPC

Kate qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy from Northumbria University adding to her BSc (Hons) in Sports Science also from the same institution.

Kate initially worked as a Junior Physiotherapist in the NHS completing a range of rotations including orthopaedics, cardiorespiratory and paediatric specialities. After a year completing her rotations Kate decided to specialise in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and worked within a Primary Care setting for 18 months.

Kate has continually added to her professional development by completing a range of courses, most recently a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Practice from Northumbria University. Other courses that Kate has completed include an AACP accredited Acupuncture Foundation course and a Diploma in Sports Massage. Kate is also a member of a local acupuncture study group who meet regularly, covering a range of acupuncture techniques and also learning different therapies that can be used alone or as part of physiotherapy treatment such as Cupping and Korean Hand Therapy.

Kate also has a keen interest in sports physiotherapy and is currently Head Physiotherapist for Blaydon Rugby Club, a National League 1 rugby union team. She has also worked with local rugby teams as well as Team Northumbria Netball who compete in the National Super League. In addition Kate gained a unique experience in 2008 providing physiotherapy to the professional dancers of the West End musical, Starlight Express.

Kate endeavours to use her knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to aid her patients in achieving their treatment goals.

EDD SHAW

BSc(HONS) Physiotherapy, MCSP, HPC

Originally from Nottingham, Edd trained and qualified at Teeside University in 2001 with a 2:1 in Physiotherapy. He focused in particular on leg length inequality and its effect on the spinal posture for his dissertation. Following university, Edd travelled the world for several months before he joined the physiotherapy team at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough where he spent 3 years working his way through the rotations specialising towards musculoskeletal physiotherapy. He then worked in different areas in the UK as a locum physiotherapist before commencing a specific training post in musculoskeletal physiotherapy at the University Hospital of Hartlepool, eventually gaining a deserved post in 2006 as a senior specialist.

Always looking for new challenges, Edd then took on a Voluntary placement oversees with a VSO based in Papua New Guinea. His objective was to train people locally to assess, build and keep running a National Wheelchair service which he claims was the most fascinating and rewardinglearning experience of his career to date.

For the last 3 years Edd has worked in different GP and private practise settings in the North East, taking a particular interest in a soft tissue technique called myofascial release to help support his CPD and other vital skills learnt through thepast nine and a halfyears of practise.

Outside of work his passions are music,performing in a north east samba band and playing the guitar as well as enjoyingevery moment he can with his newborn son!

Fiona Hills

BSc (Hons) BA, SOM, AACP, MCSP, HPC

Fiona studied for a BSc Hons degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Northumbria and qualified as a chartered physiotherapist in 1998. Prior to this, she studied for a BA Hons in Sports Science from Canterbury Christ Church College, University of Kent.

The first 6 years of her career, she spent working within the NHS for South Tyneside Health Care Trust, where she developed her professional skills and became specialised within the field of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. Since leaving the NHS, Fiona has worked extensively in the private sector. She has been a member of The Society of Orthopaedic Medicine since 2003 and has been practising Acupuncture for the past 9 years as a member of AACP (Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists) Fiona's areas of expertise and clinical interest include spinal conditions, sports injury, whiplash and occupational injury.

NIGEL DOUGLAS

B.Sc. (Hons) Physiotherapy, MCSP, HPC, ACPSM, ACPOHE

Nigel graduated as a physiotherapist in 2004 from Northumbria University. He initially worked in the NHS as a junior physiotherapist at South Tyneside District Hospital, and following various rotations specialised in musculoskeletal physiotherapy. He then moved to North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust. During this time he studied at Teesside University for postgraduate qualifications in spinal manipulation and the assessment and treatment of shoulder disorders. Further postgraduate courses undertaken also include; Clinical Pilates, Acupuncture, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

He then moved to work in private practice at Physiotherapy Matters, and in occupational health at the Nissan car plant in Sunderland. More recently he has specialised solely on occupational health physiotherapy, and has gained qualifications and experience in Workstation (DSE) Assessment, and Applied Ergonomics.

Away from physiotherapy he enjoys playing rugby and weight training.

RITU NAYYAR

Physiotherapy Matters Manager

Ritu has a BSc in Product Design and an MSc in Engineering Management.

Aspects of these degrees have been utilised for the business in areas such as Marketing, Stationary/Promotional Design, HR and recruitment. She has also used these skills to produce many of the business policies and developed professional codes of conduct for the several clinics across the North East.

She has worked as a Quantity Surveyor for over 6 years in the Civil Engineering sector.

Ritu helped establish PML 4 years ago and has seen it grow from strength to strength with team work, commitment and long hours from everyone involved. Following market research, Ritu created Yourbody Matters in 2010, a part-time, collaborative branch of PML to cater for pregnant women, new parents and the old alike with classes such as baby massage, post natal core stability and Physio fitness for over 60’s.

She also runs a popular class in Laughter Yoga which has been successful with the public, organisations, schools and Childcare Centres in particular.

She has a keen interest in supporting charities and has raised money for Percy Hedley Foundation, Children in Need, BHF and Bernados to name a few. She is also a mum to her toddler and enjoys time spent with her.

HANNAH PAYNE

Senior Receptionist

Hannah has over 8 years hospitality and customer service experience.

Her role is to keep the team and patients as cheered and relaxed as possible.

Her interest include Science fiction and fantasy books and will chat to anyone about her favourite authors.